James O'Brien

Hockey Daily Dose

Ovi 'returns,' Monahan stays?

The second-most-recent lockout* brought about quite a few perks, even if those improvements (some longer lasting than others) didn’t Febreze the unfathomable stench of losing an entire season. For general managers, limiting how much a rookie can earn in the three years of their entry-level deal has been a real boon.

Well, at least if the chips fall in place and you handle it well.

The funny thing about the Chicago Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup run is that many will look back at it as a classic moment of salary cap mismanagement. Instead, it was a brilliant example of how things can fall perfectly into place every now and then, just like when you’re totally about to win in Guess Who?.

It’s easy to forget that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews won that championship as their rookie deals were expiring because a) they received extensions before that incredible title run and b) the ‘Hawks were forced to part ways with valuable - but ultimately, as we saw in 2013, expendable - pieces such as Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and even Antti Niemi.

Another thing that’s easily forgotten: the Blackhawks basically gave Toews a “redshirt” season, even as the third pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, clearing the way for Chicago’s dynamic duo to debut together. Would Chicago have won that Cup if Toews was making big bucks a year earlier? It’s tough to say (but affording someone like Marian Hossa certainly would have been more difficult).

In many cases, fantasy owners face amusing and lower-risk** versions of what many sports decision-makers do in real situations, but we don’t really need to wrestle with that “redshirt” decision. And good thing, because it’s challenging enough to think a month or two in the future … imagine going years? (Keepers excluded.) No thanks, that sounds too much like real life.

NHL teams fight that tough present vs. the future question each year, and the Calgary Flames have a real riddle with Sean Monahan.

Editor's Note: Rotoworld's partner FanDuel is hosting a one-day $3,000 Fantasy Hockey league tonight (Thursday). It's just $10 to join and first prize is $600. Starts at 7pm ET. Here's the link.

Sean Monahan isn’t languishing on the fourth line, just trying to keep up with the speed of the NHL. Instead, he’s a first-liner … well, at least what the Flames call a first-liner … alongside Sven Baertschi and Jiri Hudler. He already has six points in six games, and it's not like most of his points came from one wild night (*cough* Tyler Seguin *cough* possible double-meaning *cough cough*); Monahan's only game without a point came on Wednesday. Other than that, he's been steady.

He's not getting amazing ice time, however, although it's generally going up lately. It might just be best to look at his production game-by-game:

Oct. 16: zero points and zero shots on goal, 15:18 TOI

Oct. 11: goal, 1 SOG, 16:31 TOI

Oct. 9: goal, assist, 3 SOG, 15:41 TOI

Oct. 6: goal, 5 SOG, 13:42 TOI

Oct. 4: goal, 2 SOG, 13:20 TOI

Oct. 3: assist, 2 SOG, 11:40 TOI

(He's getting 1:33 of power-play time on ice per game, by the way.)

Most importantly, Monahan’s been lucky. His four goals have come on just 13 SOG, an unsustainable rate of 30.8 percent. If he stays in the NHL, his goals almost certainly won't come at the same rate.

Also, the Flames might be headed for a fall after a pleasant surprise of a start. They lost to the Ducks 3-2 last night and they could be in a very different situation come Monahan decision time. Here are their next three contests:

Saturday: at San Jose

Monday: at Los Angeles

Tuesday: At Phoenix

Is Monahan as tempting to keep at 3-4-2 as he is at 3-1-2? Probably not.

Basically all of the recent stories about the Flames come down to “Hey, Calgary isn’t awful!” But how many people really think this will last? Joey MacDonald might have three wins, but he also has an .891 save percentage and the resume of a guy who bounced between the AHL and NHL for several years (which is what he is).

While the likeliness of their mediocre-to-bad status mostly says “ship Monahan,” there is the whole “giving an angsty fan base something to cling to” factor. If Calgary keeps him, Dennis Widemanwill be the only guy still under contract when Monahan’s rookie deal expires (as of this writing, obviously). So, while it’s often nice to get the most value out of each year of an entry-level contract … it’s not like the Flames have a bevy of stars who will need big raises when Monahan might need his own.

At least as far as how things look right now.

SHAKY CONCLUSION

All things considered, I would send Monahan down to junior if I were Jay Feaster. (I’d also wish my last name wasn’t Feaster.)

Still, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for the Flames to keep him around. It’s easy to say “The Future is Bright” but it’s easier to make that argument when your fans can witness the growth of such prospects. Even if it’s possible that it might not be the greatest road to development.

Ultimately, Monahan owners should note that his puck luck has been through the roof and that the nine-game entry-level deadline is coming (possibly on Tuesday). The rest will work itself out, one way or another.

After the jump: two game notes and injury bits.

* - Sheesh, the NHL shuts down often enough that we might as well come up with dinosaur-age style names for each period following a lockout. This latest one might be the “Can You Really Maintain a Playable Ice Surface in California?” Era.

** - Despite the unbearable agony you could face at the water cooler if your co-worker beats you …

The second-most-recent lockout* brought about quite a few perks, even if those improvements (some longer lasting than others) didn’t Febreze the unfathomable stench of losing an entire season. For general managers, limiting how much a rookie can earn in the three years of their entry-level deal has been a real boon.

Well, at least if the chips fall in place and you handle it well.

The funny thing about the Chicago Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup run is that many will look back at it as a classic moment of salary cap mismanagement. Instead, it was a brilliant example of how things can fall perfectly into place every now and then, just like when you’re totally about to win in Guess Who?.

It’s easy to forget that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews won that championship as their rookie deals were expiring because a) they received extensions before that incredible title run and b) the ‘Hawks were forced to part ways with valuable - but ultimately, as we saw in 2013, expendable - pieces such as Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and even Antti Niemi.

Another thing that’s easily forgotten: the Blackhawks basically gave Toews a “redshirt” season, even as the third pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, clearing the way for Chicago’s dynamic duo to debut together. Would Chicago have won that Cup if Toews was making big bucks a year earlier? It’s tough to say (but affording someone like Marian Hossa certainly would have been more difficult).

In many cases, fantasy owners face amusing and lower-risk** versions of what many sports decision-makers do in real situations, but we don’t really need to wrestle with that “redshirt” decision. And good thing, because it’s challenging enough to think a month or two in the future … imagine going years? (Keepers excluded.) No thanks, that sounds too much like real life.

NHL teams fight that tough present vs. the future question each year, and the Calgary Flames have a real riddle with Sean Monahan.

Editor's Note: Rotoworld's partner FanDuel is hosting a one-day $3,000 Fantasy Hockey league tonight (Thursday). It's just $10 to join and first prize is $600. Starts at 7pm ET. Here's the link.

Sean Monahan isn’t languishing on the fourth line, just trying to keep up with the speed of the NHL. Instead, he’s a first-liner … well, at least what the Flames call a first-liner … alongside Sven Baertschi and Jiri Hudler. He already has six points in six games, and it's not like most of his points came from one wild night (*cough* Tyler Seguin *cough* possible double-meaning *cough cough*); Monahan's only game without a point came on Wednesday. Other than that, he's been steady.

He's not getting amazing ice time, however, although it's generally going up lately. It might just be best to look at his production game-by-game:

Oct. 16: zero points and zero shots on goal, 15:18 TOI

Oct. 11: goal, 1 SOG, 16:31 TOI

Oct. 9: goal, assist, 3 SOG, 15:41 TOI

Oct. 6: goal, 5 SOG, 13:42 TOI

Oct. 4: goal, 2 SOG, 13:20 TOI

Oct. 3: assist, 2 SOG, 11:40 TOI

(He's getting 1:33 of power-play time on ice per game, by the way.)

Most importantly, Monahan’s been lucky. His four goals have come on just 13 SOG, an unsustainable rate of 30.8 percent. If he stays in the NHL, his goals almost certainly won't come at the same rate.

Also, the Flames might be headed for a fall after a pleasant surprise of a start. They lost to the Ducks 3-2 last night and they could be in a very different situation come Monahan decision time. Here are their next three contests:

Saturday: at San Jose

Monday: at Los Angeles

Tuesday: At Phoenix

Is Monahan as tempting to keep at 3-4-2 as he is at 3-1-2? Probably not.

Basically all of the recent stories about the Flames come down to “Hey, Calgary isn’t awful!” But how many people really think this will last? Joey MacDonald might have three wins, but he also has an .891 save percentage and the resume of a guy who bounced between the AHL and NHL for several years (which is what he is).

While the likeliness of their mediocre-to-bad status mostly says “ship Monahan,” there is the whole “giving an angsty fan base something to cling to” factor. If Calgary keeps him, Dennis Widemanwill be the only guy still under contract when Monahan’s rookie deal expires (as of this writing, obviously). So, while it’s often nice to get the most value out of each year of an entry-level contract … it’s not like the Flames have a bevy of stars who will need big raises when Monahan might need his own.

At least as far as how things look right now.

SHAKY CONCLUSION

All things considered, I would send Monahan down to junior if I were Jay Feaster. (I’d also wish my last name wasn’t Feaster.)

Still, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for the Flames to keep him around. It’s easy to say “The Future is Bright” but it’s easier to make that argument when your fans can witness the growth of such prospects. Even if it’s possible that it might not be the greatest road to development.

Ultimately, Monahan owners should note that his puck luck has been through the roof and that the nine-game entry-level deadline is coming (possibly on Tuesday). The rest will work itself out, one way or another.

After the jump: two game notes and injury bits.

* - Sheesh, the NHL shuts down often enough that we might as well come up with dinosaur-age style names for each period following a lockout. This latest one might be the “Can You Really Maintain a Playable Ice Surface in California?” Era.

** - Despite the unbearable agony you could face at the water cooler if your co-worker beats you …

RANGERS 2, WASHINGTON 0

-- Alex Ovechkin should be given serious thought as the first overall pick in fantasy drafts again. It's not just his six goals (three on the PP) and nine points in seven games ... he has a ridiculous 50 SOG already. That's slightly more than seven per game. He already has two eight-shot contests this season, including last night. I'm willing to wager that he's the only player with six goals or more so far in 2013-14 who has a lower shooting percentage (12.0) than his career average (12.2).

-- Hey, that's more like it, New York Rangers. The Washington Capitals only had one more shot (22) in the entire game than the Rangers fired on Braden Holtby in the second period. And then they only had four SOG in the third period. It's ... a feeling-out process.

-- Wow, Brad Richards might be even better in an implied contract year than he is in a real one. He has four points in his last two games and seven in six overall. Some praise him most for his passing skills, but he's firing rubber on nets with aplomb (27 SOG in six games). Maybe coaches just need to hypnotize him into thinking that he's fighting for a contract every season.

-- Ryan Callahan could be the useful forward he's been for years, even though he's coming off surgery. His three goals came in the last two games and he has 13 SOG in the last three (including six last night). He's in an actual contract year, as is Henrik Lundqvist, who notched a heartening shutout.

-- Keep circling the waiver wire for impatient people regarding Holtby. His overall numbers aren't great, but his save percentage improved in every game this season; he went from .917 on Oct. 10 to .933 (his only win on Oct. 14) and .944 last night. He's still largely owned (82 percent) but cross your fingers for short tempers, because he’s a solid fantasy option.

ANAHEIM 3, CALGARY 2

-- Dustin Penner (just two percent owned) scored his second goal in two games riding shotgun with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Please, Bruce Boudreau, please please keep them together. Penner's possibly worth adding already, and at minimum worth following, if this situation sticks. Lesser linemates have enjoyed sporadic success with the Ducks' diabolical duo, but Penner has the resume to do much more damage; the guy has four 20+ goal seasons (including a 32-goal peak) on his resume. Just keep an eye on his injury situation, as he’s admittedly a little banged-up.

(Sometimes it’s appropriate to break “strong peripheral guy”-type rules. This is one of those cases.)

-- Teemu Selanne finally scored his first goal of the season, and while his production is waning (11 SOG in five games is a little underwhelming for a sniper) he still has four points in five contests.

-- I know it's not as much fun to add a depth winger as it is to grab a 2013 first-round pick, but Jiri Hudler's probably a safer bet than Monahan. You don't have to worry about him getting sent down, his shooting percentage isn't AS misleading (23.1 percent) and he has more points (8 in 6 GP). Sure, not much sizzle to go with a mediocre cut of steak, but someone has to score in Calgary, right?

-- One would think that Viktor Fasth waiting so long between starts (Oct. 6, then Oct. 16) means Jonas Hiller snared the starting job, but both have three starts each. So hopefully you didn't select Jonas Hiller too high.

INJURIES (full list) AND QUICK HITS

Evander Kane left Wednesday practice with a leg injury ... Tim Thomas looks to be back in action tonight, and against his former team the Boston Bruins, no less. A seven-goal meltdown and a dazzling shutout seem equally likely ... The Leafs are still being vague about James van Riemdsyk's status, so stay glued to pre-game skate updates ... The good news is that the Lightning called up first-round talent Brett Connolly. The bad news is that Martin St. Louis might be the guy who allows him to get in the lineup, as Tampa Bay's captain has a foot injury ... Carl Hagelin was cleared for contact. In other Rangers injury news, Derek Stepan seemed at risk for a concussion, but returned to last night's game (so we'll see). Troy Brouwer may or may not sit for that ... Patrick Kaleta looks to appeal his 10-game suspension ... At least Maxim Lapierre feels regret for the hit he put on Dan Boyle, who is "OK" ... Davis Drewiske will miss five-to-six months with shoulder surgery, adding to a beaten-up Habs blueline ... The Devils placed Ryane Clowe on the IR ... Magnus Paajarvi is likely to debut for the Blues Thursday ... Ilya Bryzgalov's ECHL tryout is over. Will an NHL team eventually give him a shot?